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Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar
Categories: Restaurants Cuban Nightlife Bars Nightlife Dance Clubs Cuban, Bars, Dance Clubs [Edit]
10 S 2nd StPhiladelphia, PA 19106
Neighbourhood: Olde City
(215) 627-0666
Announcement
Graduating? Bring fam & friends over to Old City. Call 215.627.0666 to make a reservation.
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 3 pm
Mon-Wed, Sun 4 pm - 10 pm
Thu-Sat 4 pm - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ages Allowed:
- All Ages
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
360 reviews for Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar
Review Highlights
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"Mango butter and toast is crazy good." In 71 reviews -
"I love love love love their passion fruit mojitos." In 120 reviews -
"My favorite was fire and ice ceviche." In 10 reviews
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360 reviews in English
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Review from Kamilah B.
Philadelphia, PA
Love love love this place!
My hubs took me here as a treat. We ordered the menu where you get to taste everything...and loved everything!
The sizing and timing was perfect. The service was awesome. -
Review from Prasath S.
Hoboken, NJ
5/3/2012
Decent.
Guac was disappointing.
The Empanadas, Baby Octopus and the Cheese/Spinach Puffs were delicious. Well made drinks too -
Review from Parker S.
4/30/2012
cool decor. good food. good drinks. a little pricey, but its in the trendy area of old city, so it should be expected.
I've always received good service and enjoyed my dinners. The place gets crowded but I don't think I've ever had reservations and yet i've always been seated within 1 drink while waiting at the bar.
i've had people ask me whether the food is actually good or if you are swayed by the decor and ambiance. quite frankly, i don't care...i think the food is good, if i'm claiming medicore food is good because the atmosphere is cool then I'm OK with that. I have always left feeling like I had a good meal at a fun spot.
It's not cheap but not ridiculous. I think entrees are in the $18-$30 range. The drink prices can add up quick if you aren't careful. -
Review from John W.
Schwenksville, PA
5/21/2012
I had been wanting to try Cuba Libre for quite some time now. I am glad that I finally got there because the food was terrific! We had the sampler deal for $39 bucks which is a pretty much a taste of all they have on the menu. One of the few places where their Mojitos are made correctly as well. Nice! Can't wait to get back there! However, it can be a bit on the loud and lively side so if you are looking for a quiet and intimate evening you might want to try somewhere else for that.
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Review from Andy F.
Chicago, IL
4/19/2012
The people who work here have no business serving any body, not even incarcerated prisoners.
First off, I had to wait about 10 minutes for the host to stop babbling on the phone to get seated. He didn't seem to know / care that we were there. Then, after requiring my wife, kid and I to purchase an entree (instead of appetizers) in order to sit outside --even though it was 3pm and dead empty-- they messed up the order.
We asked for a salad with no cheese which had cheese. After telling the server of this, he told us "well, you already started eating it" and said he didn't want to bother the cook to fix the order. Plus the prices weren't cheap, so the service and the food shouldn't have both been a hassle. Jerks. -
Review from Angie D.
Manhattan Valley, Manhattan, NY
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
My boyfriend surprised me with this restaurant the other day after having a horrible experience with Pat's Steak!
Anyways... i wasn't so hungry but i decided to go with just appetizers. I ordered Chicharrones de la Casa & the house salad for my man and i to share. The salad was very good and i enjoyed the chicharrones de la casa...some what..not the best..it was okay.
I didn't plan to eat an entree but the waiter, Ryan was very helpful, pleasant and friendly with us despite the fact i even shared that we were from New York! Especially Yankee fans..lol anyways... he cheered me up and made me feel okay about the Pat's Steak horrible experience i had earlier that day. He shared his knowledge about Philly and as a tourist i appreciated that!
For entrees, we had Churrasco a la Cubana... it's a yummy grilled skirt steak served on top of an onion sauce... THAT!.. my friends! ..gave the steak a delicious additional taste.. the dish was also accompanied by an exotic mash-potato with a sweet garlicky taste. The watercress and rosemary mushroom escabéche salad complimented the steak! I miss the salad already! lol This entree really hit the spot and i felt so light and satisfied. The portions were perfect and not so fulling (in other words i didn't feel stuffed like ball to the point i couldn't move or breathe). I left very happy and satisfied with the food & service! :-) Thanks Ryan!
The bill ended being 83 or 86 dollars roughly(including the mojito that my bf enjoyed).. yea we will be back soon! -
Review from Cassy H.
3/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
DAY TIME: Cuba Libre is your typical Cuban restaurant. My friend and I came here for a super late lunch. I ordered "Coca de Lomo", which is essentially flatbread pizza topped with grilled pork tenderloin, grilled veggies like zucchini, portobello mushrooms, onions, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and finally cheese. Muy delicioso, pero salado. Delicious but salty. (Writing about this place inspires me to utilize my high school level Spanish.) My friend is vegan and decided to order from rápido lunch menu. No joke, I'm not trying to flaunt my Spanish this time.. it is really called the rápido lunch menu for a fast lunch. He ordered the vegetarian trio, which included my pizza (but the vegetarian version), black beans, and a house salad. He agrees with me that the pizza was a bit salty... and also, he made a great point about how it was kind of greasy. However, still good food.
NIGHT TIME: Cuba Libre transforms into this hot Latin dane club.. sizzling salsa, I'd say. This place is packed with people, dancing, swaying, tilting and twirling their partners away to the beat and rhythm of salsa, merengue, and reggaeton music. Also, the best part = no cover! Although I proclaim myself to be more of a hiphop, top 40s type of dancing diva, I discovered my sizzling Latin side. Anyway, the crowd is friendly and most guys at this place can dance, which I absolutely appreciate! Although you will still get a crowd of wall flower type of guys.. lurking by the wall, watching you dance intently. I've come to realize that's just unavoidable anywhere you go.
Overall, I'd definitely go back to this place. In fact, I was in town for 2 nights and went there all two nights.. dancing away. So, definitely a 4 star place for the dance club part, not sure if I would give the food rating a 4, probably a 3. However, I have to give 4 stars for excellent service. Our waitress was super attentive and even the manager came and checked-in on our table. However, this can be due to the fact that we had such a late lunch and it wasn't as crowded when compared to rush hour. -
Review from Ashley B.
Philadelphia, PA
5/16/2012
My family came into town and we went to Cuba Libre for lunch on the day of my graduation. This was spur of the moment decision and we were all really hungry and thirsty! My family loves Mojitos which were awesome!! My favorite that day was the mango. We all had the tasters menu option which was so good!!! I had del mar, (from the sea) which was a taster of a few of their seafood items on the lunch menu. The soup was full of seafood including mussles and scallops. The broth was made with coconut milk and was so flavorful. The portions were great, the food was authentic and so deeee-lish! Needless to say all of our plates were empty! We ordered the banana and chocolate chip bread pudding dessert, and it was SO GOOD! A must have from now on for sure! The service was great and the waitress really knew the menu and took a lot of time explaining all of her favorite items, which was nice. The ambiance was very nice and deffinitely gave you the feel of being in an open air bistro.
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Review from Lia G.
3/17/2012
Very fun atmosphere, and while it was busy on a Friday night we were still able to get a table right away. Our waiter was nice enough, but very enthusiastic. At a place with unusual food it'd be nice if the waiter could schmooze and give you a better idea of what some of the things on the menu are (beyond the descriptions on the menu). I had the red sangria. It sounded really good on the menu and supposedly had rum in it but it was a little too sweet for me. My husband had one of their fancier cocktails and that was pretty good.
We shared the papas rellanas, the yucca fries, and the Pato Ahumado. The best one was the pato ahumado- basically duck bacon. Very unique but also rich and tasty. Everything else was pretty good too, the other highlight was the sauce that came with the yucca fries.
Overall a little pricey for what you get. Tapas are supposed to be small dishes but these were really small. -
Review from Lisa A.
3/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
We went to the Flower Show and after a hour, I needed to start drinking. 4:30pm, throwing back a few mojitos.
Highly recommend: Grilled Pineapple mojito made with dark rum and the raspberry mojito (with dark rum too). Holly didn't really enjoy the mango ginger martini.
Shared tapas: fried yucca (yum! must get), potato rellanos (good, loved the fried onions on top), pineapple guacamole (needed something else--spicy, salty...something. Good plantain chips!), shrimp empanadas (H said it was good), spring rolls (I was surprised by their taste, but they were actually really good) and maybe something else.
We had three drinks a piece plus all the small plates: $115
Waiter was a bit sour to start, then warmed up. Maybe it was the booze we were drinking hahahaha -
Review from Marilyn S.
Philadelphia, PA
3/13/2012
$25 brunch is totally worth it!!! Definitely be hungry, or be at a table of 4 and get one of everything to share! Except the seafood soup; get one of those for each of you, it's tiny but SO DELICIOUS. Shrimp, mussels, scallops, and a slightly creamy (coconut milk maybe?) but very light broth with truffle oil. Ohh truffle oil, I love you.
Guacamole wasn't really guacamole. It was full of pineapple. Too much pineapple. I couldn't really taste any avocado.
Frituras de Malanga were amazing!! I don't know what I was eating, but you know you're eating something absolutely amazing when you smile the whole time. It was kind of like a more upscale and flavorful item from a dim sum cart, one of those fried yam balls. It doesn't sound great, but trust me, just get it and you'll know what I mean.
Crab benedict was another standout item, along with Cubano spring rolls and the Torreja for dessert. If I were to recommend not getting a few dishes, it would be the salmon grilled cheese (just regular smoked salmon on dry toasted bread), chicharrones de la casa (not so tasty), and the Miami frita (just a burger, nothing special).
Helpful hint - get one of the cheaper brunch drink specials. Regular Bloody Marys are $10 or more. Oops. Should have gotten a $5 Mimosa Rojo.
Service is excellent and super friendly! The decor is adorable. -
Review from Neels K.
Brooklyn, NY
3/20/2012
This place is humongous! Bar is descent. Walked in without a reservation, waited for 15 min's to get a table. Drinks are alright, they have some good tequila though.
Food is not the best, go for the small plates if you're not much of an eater. You love salsa, wait till 11:30!
Best part is the décor, just love the fans! -
Review from Karol S.
Philadelphia, PA
1/30/2012
$25 unlimited BRUNCH!!
Must have:
1) Canasta de Pan: The only treasure in this bread basket is the warm BANANA BREAD--BEST I HAVE EVER HAD. It is a cloud of goodness that just melts in your mouth.
2) Torreja (Hazelnut and almond encrusted brioche French toast): Good size and delicious.
3) Torta de Cangrejo Benedict (Jumbo lump crabmeat and potato cake): really good, get it!
4) Sopa Levanta Muerto--just get it. no questions.
5) Guacamole Cubano--nothing special, but nice to pick at. especially with those crispy plantain chips.
6) Chicharrones de la Casa--a nice assortment of meats and flavors. But the meat is very well-done (since it's fried).
7) Camarones a la Parrilla--AMAZING. MY SECOND FAVORITE. get them. and the watercress salad is refreshingly and flavorful.
8) Pulpo con Berenjenas--MY FAVORITE. First time I've eaten baby octopus and I loved it! I also loved the Haitian eggplant salad that it sits on. OMG. delicious.
Some plates are definitely larger than others. If you opt for the unlimited brunch, you may get things that you otherwise would not (such as the bread basket or the guacamole). If you opt for a la carte, I recommend the french toast (Torreja' and/or pancakes & bacon ('Panqueques') for sweet...they are bigger dishes. For salty, definitely get the octopus and grilled shrimp dishes, as well as the Sopa Levanta Muerto. -
Review from Nora Y.
2/25/2012
We came to Cuba Libre for an early dinner on a Saturday. The downstairs bar and dining room was already packed. We were the first ones seated upstairs but it quickly filled up. Mojitos here were some of the best I have ever had. We tried the passionfruit, mango, and pear, all were amazing. We could not get enough of the toast and mango butter. The toast had a bit of cinnamon flavor in it so it was really interesting with the mango butter.
We split the guava bbq ribs, the spinach croquettes with goat cheese, and smoked duck to start. The Ribs were the best, the meat came right off the bone and the guava glaze was not super sweet. For entrees we split the vaca frita and the sea bass. The sea bass came completely deboned and was in a citrus sauce. The vaca frita was a bit too greasy for me, but it had a lot of flavor. Overall, I thought the menu was overpriced, but it's a great place to try at least once. -
Review from Brian C.
2/12/2012
Come for the mojitos. Come for salsa dancing. I've had plenty of fun and mildly promiscuous times with both. This is definitely a fun place to work up a sweat.
The food here though is a bit bland, and the meat I had was a bit tough, like it had been forgotten on the stove or left to dry out a bit. Maybe it was just the couple of times I went, but the food was a bit lacking for me.
The decor is charming and really takes you away to another place. The fans, trees, and warm glow to the restaurant can make even a chilly Philadelphia winter feel warm. This is definitely a place I'd come back to for drinks and dancing, but unfortunately not for the food. -
Review from Jamie M.
1/9/2012
I was uber-excited to hit up Cuba Libre since their salsa night came highly recommended by some people I know. However, I never got to experience it because I became bored.
I arrived at 10:30 since the website said music was from 10P-2A and the guy at the door told me it would start at 11. Although it got more crowded around that time, the music never made it's debut.
I ended up leaving around 11:30 because I got bored. Definitely don't come here alone; you'll need the company while you wait for the music to transition over. -
Review from David M.
2/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We had a 5:30 pm friday night reservation for a party of 4 (two couples). We arrived at 5:15 and were seated right away. We parked across the street in a pay lot for 20 bucks. We did not notice the $14 flat rate valet parking sign until we were leaving. I think they were towing cars from the front of the restaurant when we arrived so perhaps the valet parking starts at 6 pm?
We were seated upstairs in a back corner away from all of the foot traffic. The tables are really close to one another. I understand this is how many restaurants in the city operate, but it is not intimate to be ass cheek to ass cheek with the guy seated behind me, it is uncomfortable. It is also very dark in here at night. The candle at the table did little to help us read the menu. We had to use our cell phones for lighting. It's not romantic, it's annoying.
Our server took our drink orders and we were brought glasses of water and a basket of Cuban bread with mango butter (Yum!). While 3 of us stuck with bottled beers, my wife had the Caipiroska which was a strong vodka, guarapo and lime drink. She liked it. We asked what the rum prices on the menu were for, like what sized bottle, and we were told that those prices are by the shot! lol seriously? You won't ever catch me paying 38 dollars a shot for anything, I don't care how old it is.
The couple we were with ordered the Valentine's special which was 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 desserts from a "special" menu for 78 dollars. I can't remember exactly what they ordered, but they thought everything was great, cooked to perfection.
My wife ordered the Guava Ribs for her appetizer. They tasted great but she was disappointed there were only 2 small ribs on the plate for 7.50.
I had the Buñuelos de Espinaca (spinach and cheese puffs). An excellent choice. 6 large deep fried puffs stuffed with spinach and Manchego cheese. I shared these with my wife since her appetizer was so paltry.
For entrees I had the El Cubano, Cuban pressed ham sandwich with plantain chips on the side. One of my favorite sandwiches and this was one of the best I've had. I only ate half and had the other half wrapped up for snacking later. My wife liked the plantain chips, but I didn't think they tasted like anything really.
My wife had the Arroz con Pollo. Chicken and saffron rice with other good things like wild mushrooms and peas, served in a big bowl. She loved it.
We were stuffed and did not order dessert, rather just 2 large cups of coffee with Mexican chocolate and whipped cream to sip while our friends had their dessert and drinks.
Service was excellent for the most part. Whenever one of us would get up to use the rest room, the server would come and re-roll our linen napkins for us. Never saw that before. She was polite and prompt, and nothing was rushed until the end after we paid our bill and we were finishing our drinks, she was hovering over us waiting for us to leave. I understand, it's friday night and someone else wants this table.
Will come back again and try the brunch or their happy hour. I hear both are great. -
Review from Karen F.
1/6/2012
3.5 stars is probably more accurate - but I am rounding up to 4 because my husband enjoyed it (he says it's better than Alma de Cuba - I disagree) and they were very accomodating to our 7 year old on a bustling Friday night.
Alma de Cuba is also great for its bar and party vibe. My $9 Classic Mojito was perfect - not too strong (but if you like a strong drink you might not agree).
Vaca Frita, Ropa Vieja, Maduros, Chicken Empanada (a little small) and Classic Bean Beans & Rice were all they way "they are supposed to be". Excellent Food, a bit high priced for cuban.
Better than Mixto, not quite as good (nor as pricey/trendy/hoity-toity) as Alma de Cuba (IMHO).
Go and enjoy.
Ryan - our server was cordial and attentive. A great guy!
Many thanks to Alma de Cuba for participating in Friends Select School's Dining with Friends program. We hope many people will come here! -
Review from Daniel H.
2/12/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Let's make this simple - what shouldn't you get here? CRAZY! What should you get here? EVERYTHING! Amazing food + refreshing mojitos + expedient and friendly service + cool ambiance = make your reservation and go ASAP.
Here's some help if my "everything" recommendation is overwhelming:
Appetizer: empanadas, empanadas, empanadas. All four varieties (traditional beef, chicken/corn, pulled pork, shrimp). The chicken and pork are probably my favorite. Don't overlook the spinach salad and the tomatillo relish - the relish is one of the best accoutrements I've ever had on any dish. It compliments the empanadas so well.
Mains: Vaca Frita, Churrasco a la Cubano. Don't even ask questions. Just do it. Hint for the Vaca Frita - order a side of Maduros (fried sweet plantains), cut some up and throw them in the dish with the black beans.
Drink: mojito anniversario
Dessert: any of the Tres Leches they have at the time. By far my favorite type of dessert when done right, and Cuba Libre does it leaps and bounds beyond right.
And I lied - if there's anything you shouldn't get, it would be the gaucho platter for two. Not worth it.
Go and let your taste buds enjoy a night of their own brand of salsa dancing; the kind that can only happen in your mouth, courtesy of Cuba Libre.Listed in: Philly - As good as it gets
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Review from Steve L.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
1/2/2012
Cuba Libre is an interesting location. They recently remodeled or redid their menu (in the past year) and I can say I was impressed. They have a good selection, all tapas style. Some of the highlights were a pineapple guacamole and the octopus dish.
I visited this place awhile ago, so my review isn't going into much detail. Sorry all, but do know this place is great for drinks and some tapas with your friends. Go during the summertime when they open up all the doors and the fresh air is brought in. Great location too! -
Review from Tristan W.
Philadelphia, PA
2/24/2012
The first thing I will say is that we went a little early on a Saturday night (6pm?). We used to live in DC and were always told to not waste our time at the Cuba Libre in DC, and to instead go to the one in Philly. So we were excited to check it out.
I don't want to say go to Alma de Cuba instead...but...go to Alma de Cuba instead.
We ate off the tapas menu (maybe that was a mistake?). Out of the 5 plates we ordered, 3 were winners, 1 was alright, and we literally couldn't finish one of them. We also had dessert which was forgettable.
The drinks were unique and great. My wife had a perfectly mixed mojito and I had a delicious caipirinha.
The ambiance may have been nice for some, but despite it not being that busy, we were sat next to the kitchen where I nearly wore a plate of food. Luckily the service was great.
Considering the price you're paying, you may want to consider one of Philly's other great places instead. -
Review from Janelle M.
Philadelphia, PA
2/14/2012
It pains me to write this. I loved Cuba Libre once upon a time. It was one of my favorite restaurants. But my last experience there this weekend has turned me away from every coming again.
Now before I begin, let me stress that I am VERY big on customer service and HUGE on great food.
I went with a companion of mine because we hadn't been in awhile. They ordered the sea bass per my recommendation and I ordered the Camarones con Cana. Now, this dish I had never tried before, however, I had NEVER been disappointed any time before when I tried something new. The menu description looked awesome and I said "why not".
The waiter may have been new, or what have you but he was not the most attentive. When our food arrived, my companion's looked as expected and they said it was amazing. My dish on the other hand was the complete opposite.
My dish did not look as I had expected it. Definitely not worth the money I paid for it. The only thing that looked as if it was a part of the menu description was the shrimp itself and NOTHING else. I mentioned to my waiter THREE times that I did not like the dish when he asked THREE times about the food. Ummmmmmm did you think my answer would change if you asked me more than once? I think not. I would've sent the plate back but after eating the HUMONGOUS shrimp on the plate (because that was the only thing worth eating and due to his consistent disappearing acts I was too hungry to wait), I figured that would be wrong. However, when I voiced to him SEVERAL times that I was unhappy, why in heavens name did you not offer something else, let me talk to a manager, or comp my meal?!
Thankfully this meal was not on my dime because if I had to pay for it, I would be significantly more upset than I was, however, the great conversation was enough to keep me grounded.
*DEEP SIGH*......BUT since I didn't make a scene, I decided to review instead because as a patron, I realize that without our lil ole greenbacks, they would not be able to get far. Hopefully they know that, see this review, and straighten up and fly right to counteract the fear of losing loyal customers. -
Review from Nik K.
Philadelphia, PA
1/25/2012
Going to places for Restaurant Week can be hit or miss. Usually, it determines whether I would go back and pay full price. Unfortunately, I can't say for certain that I would...
The food and service were good. We each had a different appetizer. One was an eggplant-wrapped ravioli stuff with ropa vieja. It was pretty good, if kind of odd, and definitely could have used salt, which was not on the table (which I hate about any restaurant). The other was a plaintain soup with cured duck meat, and this was absolutely delicious!
We both had their wild boar chop, done medium well. It was good. Seasoned nicely and hot when it arrive. It had a citrusy kale (yum!) and this gummy stuffed something that was not so good.
Dessert was a delicous banana and chocolate chip bread pudding with a caramel sauce and powered sugar. I love it! Went perfectly with a nice hot cup of coffee.
The drink menu is extensive, and about average for the area $9-$12 per cocktail. Not sure about their beers, and their wines are very reflective of their latin heritage. It fits nicely with the overall theme of the place.
I've been here two times before: once for drinks, at the upstairs bar, and thought it was too expensive for the size of the drinks (I was also a college student then, so that could explain my complaint about the price); another time was one of my first meals in Philadelphia back in 2002 - it didn't inspire my parents and I then, so I think that's carried forward in my feelings now.
Overall, it has a cool vibe and the food was decent. Not my favorite Latin place though (see previous review of another locale). -
Review from Khanh T.
Philadelphia, PA
1/10/2012
Overrated and gimmicky.
The waitress was dumb and unprofessional. All she could say was "absolutely" to everything.
I got a braised beef dish and it way too oversalted even with the rice.
The only redeeming quality is the mango butter and bread. Their capirhinhas aren't bad either and their latin nights for dancing are fun.
For the price you pay there are better places in town--Alma de Cuba and Amada if you want similar food. -
Review from Aisling M.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 4/2/2012
Just an update...
I returned with friends again to this restaurant and things went a lot better this time. This time it was Saturday at 7pm with 6 people.
From a food perspective, everyone LOVED what they ordered. Everyone was really pleased and I think it was a success. From a service perspective, the waiter as friendly and nice (and not wound up like the last guy). Service isn't over the top here but it in line with the atmosphere and prices.
Everyone ordered an entree and we shared two apps between 6 people. The apps are very small portions so I would say 2 people per app. Each person had two alcoholic drinks, it worked out to about $50 pp.
I recommend as a place to take folks from out of town if you are looking to stay around the Old City area.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/6/2011
Went on a Friday night for a 9pm reservation with a group of 4.
POSITIVE:
Overall, I was pleased and… Read more »
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Review from Matt G.
3/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Mojito....mojito....mojito GET ONE. Had one of the best mojito's ever here...so smooth.
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Review from Vicky M.
Cinnaminson, NJ
1/29/2012
Restaurant Week - $35 for 3 course meal.
Sea Bass. Often my biggest gripe about sea food at restaurants is that they hide the fish underneath thick sauces or even worse - cheese or breading. Cube Libre's Sea Bass entre hit the right balance of adding flavor (hot peppers and lime) without over whelming the fish.
My other recommendation would be the flan for desert. A nice sharp cheese grated on top, with a creamy flan, was a nice end to the meal. -
Review from Camille D.
Santa Barbara, CA
3/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stopped in for a late weekday lunch and had incredibly delicious small plates: seafood rapido lunch (3 items), plus fried plantains, bbq ribs, taro root dumplings, and flan for dessert. We don't recall the Spanish names for everything, but go and try lots of different small plates. Seriously well-prepared, nicely plated and presented, amazing sauces and flavors, incredible ambiance and stellar service by our wonderful waiter who patiently described many dishes and brought extras, the charming food server, and the host/manager (?) who helped make our lunch a wonderful experience. We loved Cuba Libre and wish we had one in our own hometown! Go and Enjoy!
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Review from QueenSoulsista W.
Philadelphia, PA
3/21/2012
Lol I got lost in here. So much fun dancing.
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Review from kathy l.
Philadelphia, PA
12/2/2011
This review is based solely on one visit ... Sunday all you can eat brunch!!!! Three girls + ordered almost 70% of the menu == very happy Sunday. The rum coffee my friend ordered is still something we talk about.
Caution - you must decide to consume 2,000+ calorie menu without any remorse. Or else don't bother. :)
(Salute to my great grandmother from Cuba!) -
Review from Sakora H.
Mill Creek, Philadelphia, PA
3/23/2012
They should tell you it's not actual Cuban food 100% it's Cuban Fusion...Pretty sucky when you want some real island food but to lazy to travel into the hood to get it service is great music is ok wish they would have played more bachata... But if you want an Cuban experience somewhat it's an good place if you want real authentic food your going to have to the barrios and find an real mami y papi restaurant!!!!!!!
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Review from Leanne B.
New Providence, NJ
2/28/2012
The food was good (but overpriced).
The drinks were horrible, and the service was atrocious. -
Review from Walter K.
11/11/2011
Late nights are a nightmare here. Brunch, however, is a real treat. It's served tapas style, and although you can order all-you-can-eat brunch, you can certainly fill up for less than the $25 price tag.
The decor here is pretty nice, they definitely spend a good amount of cash making the place look cool. There's even a DJ for Sunday brunch playing easy listening bossa nova. Coffee is strong and the service is good. Everything is brought out as it is prepared, and this can sometime be a bit much as you can have four or five dishes suddenly piled up on the table.
I was dining with my friend Holly and we ordered all of our food from the breakfast part of the menu. We started with the assorted breakfast breads, and this was literally a mixed bag. Some were awesome (churro) while the muffin was far too sweet. The mango butter, however, is heavenly. The chorizo omelet was also one of the stars of the menu.
Bottom Line: Lots of small tasting plates makes for a nice, if slightly pricey brunch. Make sure you visit with someone who likes to share. -
Review from Lianna N.
Updated - 10/9/2011 11 photos
Went back to Cuba Libre for a late dinner and then the salsa dancing, which starts at ~10:30pm. There is a good crowd and lots of talented dancers, but also lots of beginners (me!) There were 2 showcases done by professional dancers, which was entertaining to watch. There were also a lot of men looking for dance partners, if that's your thing. I simply shook my head and continued with the girls night out when asked to dance and they did not further harass me.
Watermelon and Cucumber Mojitos were superb, and the tapa style dinner I chose was very very good. Highlights include:
PESCADOS
Camarones a la Parrilla 7
Cuban pesto-marinated grilled shrimp, boniato chip and arugula salad.
Pimentón-lemon vinaigrette
Chicharrones de la Casa 6.5
Crisp marinated chicken, skirt steak, pork masitas,
Cortez chorizo and tostón. Mojo picante
Pulpo con Berenjenas 7.5
Truffle and citrus marinated grilled baby octopus, Haitian eggplant salad1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/16/2011
I finally got to eat at Cuba Libre, and during Restaurant week to boot!
My time there was very… Read more »
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Review from Tom W.
Hanover, PA
11/24/2011
I love the decor and I love the concept. I really wanted this place to blow me away...but it didn't. Don't get me wrong, it is a perfectly ok place to go but there are so many choices in Philly that this may be a "one and done" deal for me.
We went on a Sunday for brunch. So that we could try several items, we ordered the bottomless tapas for $25. If you are a heavy eater, this is a good way to try several different things. Ultimately, you need to eat a lot for this to be a great deal, but the concept is nice.
We ordered the following: Medianoche de Salmon (2.5 **), One Eye Ropa Vieja Hash (3.5 **), El Chinito Cubano (2 **), Empanadas de Huevo (3 **), Guacamole Cubano (3 **), Torreja (3 **), Tortilla de Chorizo Papas (2.5 **), and Sopa Levanta Muerto (4 **).
The Sopa Levanta Muerto is a nice seafood soup that has very intense flavor, especially when you add the lemon and lime juice.
Our server was Jason and he was very attentive. The decor and music are very nice. The skylights make this a nice brunch destination. Unfortunately, the food is just ok. -
Review from Sean H.
2/26/2012
The décor is the best thing about Cuba Libre. That and the black bean soup. Aside from those two things, and a couple of the drinks, there's nothing special about the place. I was so excited just because the atmosphere is just so damn colorful and lively. And then the food came. There is MUCH better Cuban to be had in the city if that's what your after, which, presumably, it is.
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Review from Ashley W.
Norristown, PA
3/14/2012
Well I wrote a long review covering all the food, and apparently it was the day Yelp decided to go haywire and not save it all, so now I won't get into too much detail cause it's just too much time.
My boyfriend and I came to Cuba Libre for Valentine's Day. I've been wanting to try this place out for years, but for some reason I've never managed to go.
We had reservations for 6:30 and we arrived right on time. I was happy to see the main dining room was pretty open with maybe 7-8 tables occupied, it was pretty and I was looking forward to enjoying the ambiance. But I was significantly let down as the hostess walked us through the main dining room, up the staircase and into this cramped little dining room on the second floor.
The tables were very close together - close as in if I tilted my head back, it would have bumped the lady's head at the table behind me. Our table was along the wall and the closest table in the center was so close that when a couple was seated, the woman's coat almost knocked my drink off my table when she took it off (not her fault).
Aside at the discomfort of our seating, all else was A-OK. I had the skirt steak - delicious and cooked just right to medium rare. Boyfriend had the Camarones con Caña which he enjoyed.
Dessert was the Tres Leches de Caramelo which we split - not exactly my cup of tea, but my boyfriend enjoyed it. I don't know, just not a big fan of soggy cake. -
Review from Madeline W.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cuba Libre has very yummy drinks and an awesome rum selection. I went with my little sister without a reservation so they had us wait for 30 min at the bar first (though I'm not totally sure why because there were tons of empty tables and no one seemed to be coming in with reservations for about 45 min). However we were seated after a little while and had a very friendly waitress. We ordered a few small plates which were delicious and the bill only came out to be like $26 (we paid for our drinks at the bar while we were waiting for a table). If you want to try this place out without dropping a ton of cash I recommend doing it this way, however, my sister and I do not have huge appetites so it really depends on your party. All the food we ate was yummy and the mango butter that comes with the bread is delicious.
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Review from Prerna S.
New York, NY
9/21/2011
I really like this place!!
I went here for dinner and service, food, and drinks were all good, nothing spectacular....but the ambiance is pretty amazing! We sat near the outdoor patio area and enjoyed people watching as well as the beautiful decor inside...it is a bit pricey but portion sizes are pretty decent...I got the arroz con pollo and couldn't even finish it
After 12 they make it more like a club and have latin dancing...it gets pretty crowded but in a good way...if they mixed up the music a bit I'd be more apt to enjoy myself, but the atmosphere itself is a lot of fun -
Review from Michael G.
Philadelphia, PA
8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Quick rant -- I'm actually kind of annoyed by the service here... And here is why.
First, I am ALL about paying for a good meal. And I NEVER act like a cheapo at any restaurant. Now, I came here with two other friends for an early dinner and drinks.
Looking at the menu the entrees are expensive, okay not what I was planning on spending... but I let's leverage the small plates....
Our waiter was extremely attentive...in the beginning. We ordered some mojitos, beer... Oddly there are no happy hour specials at the table only the bar.... okay weird.
So then we try to order 6 small plates for 3 people. Which I feel like is a solid showing when we aren't really hungry for a full meal. That's when we turned off our waiter, he was done with us because he realized he wasn't going to have a $100+ table. Sorrrrrryyyyyyyyyyy, Don't cry for me Argentina.
In other news, the food was 5 stars and the portions were plenty for our group. Like I said, we weren't famished. The manager did come by and check on our table -- which I appreciated, but I didn't want to derail the entire meal by complaining about being treated like chopper liver.
Dear Cuba LIbre - Next time I come back, please be a little nicer.....
